Third-party provider method and system

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for processing negotiable economic credits through, or at the request of, a hand held device in association with a third-party provider communicative with the hand held device and/or a point of sale. At least one negotiable economic credit can be transferred from a third-party provider communicative with the hand held device to the hand held device and/or point of sale. The negotiable economic credit can be stored within a memory of the hand held device and/or point of sale for retrieval and processing at a point of sale associated with a retail establishment and/or by a hand held device. The negotiable economic credit can be associated with a security module for protecting the privacy of the negotiable economic credit. A user profile can be compiled for utilization during the retrieval of the negotiable economic credit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/962,675, filed Sep. 25, 2001, entitled“Third-Party Provider Method and System”, now pending, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 60/238,568, filed Oct. 6,2000, entitled, “Third-Party Provider Method and System,” now expired.This patent application claims the Oct. 6, 2000 filing date of the abovereferenced provisional patent application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to electronic hand helddevices (hereinafter referred to as “hand held devices”) and electroniccommerce (“E-commerce”). The present invention is also related to handheld devices, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), wirelesstelephone, pager, or other mobile computing and storage device adaptedfor use in E-commerce. The present invention is also related to wirelessand wireline computer networks. The present invention is additionallyrelated to the fields of electronic cash, credit, award, incentive,and/or product management usable with/for retail establishments,organizations, and customers. The present invention is also related tomerchandising systems and systems for generating and redeemingnegotiable economic credits and/or data (e.g., electron product discountcoupons and other negotiable economic credits, such as enterpriseawards, cash, credit, etc.).

2. Description of the Related Art

The recent shift in the consumer electronics industry from an emphasison analog technology to a preference for digital technology is largelybased on the fact that the former generally limits the user to a role ofa passive recipient of information, while the latter is interactive andallows the user to control what, when, and how he or she receives andmanipulates certain information.

This shift in focus has resulted in the development and increasinglywidespread use of, for example, a hand held digital device genericallyreferred to as a “personal digital assistant” (PDA). These hand helddevices are becoming increasingly popular for storing and maintaininginformation. Hand held devices, such as PDAs, may be connected to adesktop personal computer, networks or other PDAs via infrared, directwire, or wireless communication links.

Unlike personal computers, which are general-purpose devices gearedtoward refining and processing information, PDAs are designed tocapture, store and display information originating from various sources.Additionally, while a certain level of skill is required to use apersonal computer effectively, hand held devices, such as PDAs, aredesigned with the novice and non-computer user in mind.

A typical PDA includes a microprocessor, a memory unit, a display,associated encoder circuitry, and selector buttons. It may optionallycontain a clock and infrared emitter and receiver. A graphical userinterface permits a user to store, retrieve and manipulate data via aninteractive display. A PDA also typically includes a calendar, datebook,and one or more directories. The calendar shows a month of datesorganized as rows and columns in the usual form. The datebook shows oneday at a time and contains alphanumeric text entered in free format(typically, with a time of day and an event and/or name). Each directorycontains entries consisting of a name field and a free form alphanumerictext field that can contain company names, addresses, telephone and faxnumbers, email addresses, etc.

Entries may be organized alphabetically according to the name field andcan be scanned or searched for by specifying a specific sequence ofcharacters in the name field. A menu displayed via the graphical userinterface permits a user to choose particular functions and directories.Most PDAs come equipped with a stylus, which is a plastic-tipped penthat a user utilizes to write in a “graffiti area” of the display andtap particular graphically displayed icons. Each icon is indicative of aparticular activity or function.

PDAs are increasingly being utilized to access information from remotecomputer networks, such as the “World Wide Web” and the “Internet,” bothterms well known in the computer networking arts. PDA users can, forexample, download e-mail from the Internet to the PDA. Web sites alsoexist that permit PDA users to access and download software that may berun on the PDA. For example, some web sites offer information to PDAs inthe form of compressed news articles, stock quotes, and other dataobtained from a wide variety of other electronic web-based sources.

Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a large number ofusers of hand held devices, such as PDAs, pagers and mobile telephonyare increasingly relying on such devices to maintain and transmit avariety of personal and business information.

Discount coupons have long been distributed by manufacturers tomerchandise their products and by retail stores or establishments toattract consumers to their particular stores. Discount coupons are atype of negotiable economic credit frequently utilized by enterprisesfor marketing products and services to the public. Enterprise awards,such as frequent flyer miles, are also negotiable economic creditsrelied upon by enterprises for marketing purposes.

Coupons are typically distributed to attract customers to engage incommercial transactions. Such coupons are effective if utilized by asufficiently high percentage of customers. Utilizing this gauge,free-standing inserts are not very effective. Their redemption rate ispresently approximately 2.8 percent and dropping.

Typically, coupons are physically collected at stores and credit isprovided to the customer purchasing the corresponding product. Thecoupons are generally bundled and forwarded to a clearing house and thento a redemption center for sorting and counting. Reports are eventuallyforwarded to the manufacturers issuing the coupons in order toeventually generate a credit to the stores redeeming the coupons. It mayunfortunately take several months before a store is reimbursed forcoupons under present coupon redemption/processing methods.

Another problem with coupons is a significant misredemption rate ofbetween 20 and 30 percent as a result of misidentification and outrightfraud. The misredemption problem is exacerbated by the enormous amountof time, usually a number of months, that it takes to reimburse theretail stores for the discount given the customer.

Attempts have been made to address such problems. Such attempts,however, have resulted in additional problems, while not fullyaddressing the problems described above. For example, some companieshave implemented a product specific micro-marketing system tied to aproduct point of selection and proprietary hardware in the form of analerting platform attached to a grocery cart. A consumer within a retailestablishment presses a button on the grocery cart alerting platform toselect an electronic coupon when a coupon is graphically displayed atthe exact product location within the retail establishment. The customerand the cart must be located at the point of selection to access thecoupon. Such a micro-marketing system is proprietary in nature andrequires a customer to retrieve a coupon only from the point ofselection within the store. Thus, because of the proprietary nature ofthe system, the coupons, the alerting platform and other proprietaryhardware cannot be utilized at other retail establishments. Further, theenterprise associated with the retail establishment is burdened by themaintenance, replacement, and repair of the proprietary hardwareattached to the retail establishment's shopping carts due to use, abuse,the weather and so forth. Other systems known in the art utilize smartcards and card readers/writers at point of product selection forobtaining coupon data. Such systems, however, force the user to retrievedata at the point of product selection (i.e. point of selection),thereby tying their shopping activities to a proprietary system.

Accordingly, alternatives are needed to traditional mass marketing andcouponing techniques, and proprietary, point of selection type systems.A need exists for non-, or solely-, proprietary, based systems that areflexible, efficient and consumer friendly. Further a need exists forcredit devices that are not completely owned by the enterprise or retailestablishment, but owned by the customers themselves and which can beutilized at other retail establishments and enterprises. Such a deviceand associated systems and methods, should be ubiquitous in nature toavoid the problems inherently associated with prior micro-marketingsystems.

It has become apparent to the present inventors that the ability toacquire, store and use negotiable economic credits, such as coupons, onhand held devices would free users of the time consuming tasks ofclipping, organizing and redeeming traditional paper coupons or credits(e.g., frequent flier redemption via paper-based request), and theproblems associated with proprietary micro-marketing systems. It hasalso become apparent to the present inventors that for merchandisers andmanufacturers, such hand held devices could be utilized to effectivelymarket, compile and negotiate credit exchanges/redemption much moreefficiently than the traditional paper processing methods orproprietary-based micro-marketing systems and methods.

It is believed that aspects of the invention presently described hereinsolve the traditional problems associated with negotiable economiccredits, including coupons, cash, credit and enterprise awards, and theproblems associated with proprietary-based marketing systems thereof,while addressing an area of user control that has not yet beenconsidered, anticipated, or utilized by coupon/credit merchandisers andmanufacturers, namely, the increasing number of individuals who rely onhand held devices, such as PDAs, to maintain and store personal andbusiness information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide improvedmethods and systems for conducting E-commerce utilizing hand helddevices.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide improvedmethods and systems for processing negotiable economic data (e.g.,coupons, cash, credits, or other financial incentives and awards)through hand held devices.

It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide improvedmethods and systems, which may include program products, for generating,capturing, and redeeming negotiable economic credits.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to facilitate theprocessing of negotiable economic credits through hand held devices.

The above and other aspects are achieved as are now described. Methodsand systems for processing negotiable economic credits through a handheld device in association with a third-party provider communicativewith the hand held device is disclosed herein. At least one negotiableeconomic credit may be transferred from a third-party providercommunicative with the hand held device to the hand held device and/or apoint of sale. The negotiable economic credit may be stored within amemory of the hand held device and/or point of sale for retrieval andprocessing at a point of sale associated with a retail establishment.The negotiable economic credit can be associated with a security modulefor protecting the privacy of the negotiable economic credit. A userprofile may be compiled for utilization during the retrieval of thenegotiable economic credit, in response to user input. The user profilecan be stored in a database associated with the third-party providerand/or a database associated with the hand held device. The user profilecan also be stored in a user profile database associated with atransaction broker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of this invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram illustrating a hardware configurationof a hand held device, in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a high-level block diagram generally illustrative ofan electronic couponing method and system configured with a hand helddevice, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram illustrating additional details of anelectronic couponing method and system utilizing a hand held device, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a high-level block diagram illustrating a wirelesselectronic couponing method and system utilizing a wireless hand helddevice, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram illustrative of an electronic couponingmethod and system, in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram illustrative of an alternativeelectronic couponing method and system, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram illustrating the implementation of acoupon manager module at a retail point of sale, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram illustrating the implementation of acredit manger module at a retail point of sale, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram illustrating the implementation of creditmanager, coupon manager, product manager, and accounting modules locatedaway from the retail point of sale, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram illustrating the implementation ofcredit manager, coupon manager, product manager, and accounting modulesoutside a retail point of sale, in association with a hand held deviceconfigured as a PDA, in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram illustrating the implementation ofcredit manager, coupon manager, product manager, and accounting moduleslocated outside the retail point of sale, in association with a handheld device configured as a PDA integrated with an optical scanner, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram illustrating the implementation ofcredit manager, coupon manager, product manager, and accounting moduleslocated away from the retail point of sale, in association with a handheld device configured as a wireless telephone, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 13 depicts a system diagram illustrating an electronic coupon andcredit management system, in accordance with preferred embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative system diagram illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 15 depicts an alternative system diagram illustrating an electroniccoupon and credit management system, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative system diagram illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 17 depicts an alternative system diagram illustrating an electroniccoupon and credit management system, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates an alternative system diagram illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 19 depicts an alternative system diagram illustrating an electroniccoupon and credit management system, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates an alternative system diagram illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 21 depicts a flow-chart of operations illustrating generalprocedural steps for implementing hand held device operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates a flow-chart of operations illustrating detailedprocedural steps for implementing hand held device operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 23 depicts a flow-chart of operations illustrating additionalprocedural steps for carrying out hand held device operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates a flow-chart of operations illustrating proceduralsteps for carrying out point of sale (POS) operations, in accordancewith preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 25 depicts a flow-chart of operations illustrating procedural stepsfor carrying out both hand device and point of sale (POS) operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 26 illustrates a flow-chart of operations illustrating proceduralsteps for carrying out customer and retail operations, in accordancewith preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 27 depicts a flow-chart of operations illustrating steps forimplementing a credit manager module, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 28 illustrates an entity diagram illustrating possible attributesfor a wireless network, in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 29 depicts a block diagram illustrating the interaction of awireless network, a hand held device, and cash management modules, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 30 illustrates a block diagram of a hand held device, in accordancewith preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 31 depicts a block diagram of a hand held device configured with anoptical scanner module and optical scanner, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 32 illustrates a block diagram illustrative of a client/serverarchitecture, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 33 depicts a detailed block diagram of a client/server architecturein accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 34 illustrates a block diagram of a computer network in which apreferred embodiment of the present invention can be implemented;

FIG. 35 depicts a top view of a hand held device and a smart cardadapted for use with the hand held device, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 36 depicts a side view of the hand held device depicted in FIG. 35and a slot for inserting smart card into the hand held device, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 37 illustrates a hand held device configured with a smart cardadapted for use with the hand held device and a scanner integrated withthe hand held device, in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram illustrating a general hardwareconfiguration of a hand held device 11, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. Those skilled in the art can appreciate,however, that other hardware configurations may be utilized, and arefurther described herein, to implement hand held device 11. CPU 10 ofhand held device 11, acts as a main controller operating under thecontrol of operating clocks supplied from a clock oscillator (OSC) 13.CPU 10 may be configured as a 16-bit microprocessor. External pins ofCPU 10 are generally coupled to an internal bus 26 so that it may beinterconnected to respective components via internal bus 26.

SRAM 24 may be a writeable memory that does not require a refreshoperation and may be generally utilized as a working area of CPU 10.SRAM (Static RAM) may be a form of semiconductor memory (RAM) based on alogic circuit known as a flip-flop, which retains information as long asthere is enough power to run the device. Font ROM 22 may be a read onlymemory for storing character images (e.g., font) displayable on a liquidcrystal (LCD) panel 18.

CPU 10 of the present embodiment drives LCD display 18 utilizing, amongother media, font images from Font ROM 22. EPROM 20 may be a read onlymemory that may be erasable under certain conditions and may beprimarily utilized for permanently storing control codes for operatingrespective hardware components and security data, such as a serialnumber.

IR controller 14 may be generally configured as a dedicated controllerfor processing an infrared code transmitted/received by an IRtransceiver 16 and for capturing the same as computer data. Wirelesscontroller 17 may be generally configured as a dedicated controller andtransceiver for processing wireless RF data transmitted from and to awireless communications network.

Port 12 may be connected to CPU 10 and can be temporarily attached, forexample, to a docking station to transmit information to and from handheld device 11 to other devices, such as personal computers, retail cashregisters, electronic kiosk devices, and so forth. Port 12 can also beconfigured, for example, to link with a modem, cradle or dockingstation, which are well known in the art, that permit network devices, apersonal computer or other computing devices to communicate with handheld device 11.

User controls 32 permit a user to enter data to hand held device 11 andinitiate particular processing operations via CPU 10. In addition, CPU10 may cause a sound generator 28 to generate sounds of predeterminedfrequencies from a speaker 30.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate that additional electroniccircuits or the like other than, or in addition to, those illustrated inFIG. 1 may be required to construct hand held device 11. Suchcomponents, however, are not described in the present specification,because they are well known in the art. Those skilled in the art canthus appreciate that because of the brevity of the drawings describedherein, only a portion of the connections between the illustratedhardware blocks is depicted. In addition, those skilled in the art willappreciate that hand held device 11 can be implemented as a specifictype of a hand held device, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA),paging device, WAP-enabled mobile phone, and other associated hand heldcomputing devices well known in the art.

When PDAs are deployed, such PDA devices can be further configured withboth wireless and wireline communications capabilities, such as thosefound in cellular telephone units, in accordance with carrying outembodiments of the present invention. Examples of PDA devices that canbe utilized in accordance with the method and system of the presentinvention include the “PalmPilot” PDA, manufactured and sold by PalmComputing, the Handspring Visor, the IBM Workpad, WINDOW CE compatibledevices, RIM Blackberry-family paging devices, Motorola paging devices,and the Symbol SPT-family of PDA-type organizer devices. Hand helddevices may be also configured with optical scanning/capturingcapabilities, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention,which will be further described below.

FIG. 2 illustrates a high-level block diagram 34 generally illustrativeof an electronic couponing method and system configured with a hand helddevice 40, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. Hand held device 40, which can be configured as a PDA orother hand held device, communicates with network 38. Network 38communicates with a coupon database 36. Coupon data maintained in coupondatabase 36 can be retrieved by hand held device 40 through network 38.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate that although hand held device40 is illustrated as a PDA in FIG. 2, hand held device 40 can beimplemented as a wireless application protocol (WAP) web-enabledcellular telephone, or pager or a combination thereof. Hand held device40 can also be configured as a combination cellular phone/PDA device. Anexample of such a device is the Handspring palmtop and associatedcellular phone attachment, which is manufactured and sold by HandspringInc. Other such devices include the Palm-Motorola phone, which permitsusers to access e-mail and store calendars and contact databases.

Thus, according to FIG. 2, electronic coupon data can be stored incoupon database 36. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that suchelectronic coupons represent one type of negotiable economic credit.Thus, the method and system described herein can apply to the processingof other negotiable economic credits, such as enterprise credits/awards(e.g., frequent flyer miles). Such negotiable economic credits can alsobe implemented in the form of what has been referred to as electroniccash or currency (i.e., “e-cash”). It should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that negotiable economic credits can be implementedas actual electronic currency requiring little or no third-partyintervention for redemption, or may be implemented in the form of dataneeded to negotiate a credit transaction with a third-party and aretailer on behalf of a hand held device.

A user can thus access coupon database 36 through network 38. Data canbe transmitted to and from network 38, as illustrated by arrow 44. Datacan also be transmitted to and from coupon database 36 to network 38, asindicated at arrow 42. Communication between network 38 and hand helddevice 40 can occur through wireless transmission or direct wirelineconnections, such as a PDA docking station or cradle. The user thustransmits a request to network 38 to retrieve coupon data from coupondatabase 36.

Network 38 can thereafter access and retrieve the requested data fromcoupon database 36 and transmits such data to hand held device 40, inresponse so user input at hand held device 40. The coupon data can thenbe stored and/or displayed within a display area of hand held device 40in the form of one or more electronic coupons which can be redeemed forprice discounts at retail establishments associated with such electroniccoupons.

An electronic coupon may be essentially a token, issued by or under theauthority of the issuer for the benefit of the recipient. Typically, therecipient receives the electronic coupon and subsequently redeems it forthe prescribed benefit at some later point in time. Such an electroniccoupon can enable or modify an anticipated transaction, such asproviding a discount in the price of goods or services provided by theissuer or the issuer's agent.

In addition, such an electronic coupon can enable or modify the level ofaccess to privately held information or a server having restrictedaccess. Alternatively, the electronic coupon can be utilized intransactions between two businesses, two governmental agencies or twogovernments wherein, for example, the businesses enter into an agreementrelating to a transaction for goods or services or access toinformation, or the governmental bodies enter into an agreement relatingto transactions regarding currency or information.

The electronic coupon may be stored and retrieved in the form of coupondata. Such coupon data typically may be composed of a data structurewhich can include any or all of the following information elements: datarepresentative of an electronic coupon serial number or identificationnumber, data representative of a unique key that can be utilized tovalidate or authenticate the coupon, data representative of the vendorthat authorized the coupon and will redeem the coupon, datarepresentative of the nature of the discount or access provided by thecoupon, data representative of the server or entity that issued thecoupon.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electroniccoupon contains all the information necessary to redeem the coupon.Specifically, the electronic coupon identifies the grantor (i.e., theparty of vendor that will redeem the electronic coupon), the nature ofthe discount or benefit provided and a unique serial number or otherdata structure that permits the electronic coupon to be authenticated orvalidated. Thus, POS-based identifying hardware and software and/or aserver redeeming this type of electronic coupon can obtain all theinformation necessary to redeem from the electronic coupon. Such aserver can even include the software necessary to authenticate orvalidate the electronic coupon (e.g., the coupon manager describedherein).

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the electroniccoupons described herein can be issued as part of an electronic couponbook. The coupon book can include data representative of a versionnumber for the electronic coupon book and data representative of aserial number or identification number for the electronic coupon book.Such an electronic coupon book can be configured to include a uniqueserial number or identification number and a data structure useful forauthenticating or validating the electronic coupon book. In order toredeem this type of electronic coupon, a server and/or coupon manager ata POS, which intends to redeem the electronic coupon must connect to anauthentication server, which authenticates or validates the coupon bookand indicates the nature of the benefit of the electronic coupon to theserver or coupon manager requesting authentication/validation.

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram 47 illustrating additional details of anelectronic couponing method and system utilizing a hand held device 40,in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 3 and FIG. 4 like parts are indicated by like numbers. Thus, blockdiagram 47 of FIG. 4 is analogous to block diagram 34 of FIG. 3. Handheld device 40 can communicate with a retail checkout station 46 via adocking station 48. Docking station 48 can be configured as a PDA cradlefor communicating with retail checkout station 46. Docking station 48can be implemented as a wired or wireless docking station, or acombination thereof.

Docking station 48 and retail checkout station 46 are linked, such thatdata can be transferred from hand held device 40 to retail checkoutstation 46. Retail checkout station 46 may be in communication withnetwork 38, which in turn can access coupon database 36 to retrievecoupon data. Coupon data can be retrieved from coupon database 36 andtransferred through network 38 to retail checkout station 46. The coupondata can then be transferred from retail checkout station 46 throughdocking station 48 to hand held device 40.

During a synchronization of hand held device 40 with retail checkoutstation 46, coupon data can be transferred from hand held device 40 toretail checkout station 46. It should be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the term “synchronization” as described throughout thedisclosure herein refers generally to communication for the purpose oftransferring and/or comparing data. Such coupon data may be thencompared against prices of scanned products at the retail checkoutstation to determine if product discounts can be calculated, based onparticular coupon data transferred from hand held device 40 to retailcheckout station 46 through docking station 48. Alternatively, during atransaction at retail checkout station 48 in which coupon data may betransferred to retail checkout station 46 from hand held device 40, newcoupon data can be retrieved from coupon database 36 via network 38 andtransferred to retail checkout station 46 and thereafter to hand helddevice 40.

FIG. 4 illustrates a high-level block diagram 50 illustrating a wirelesselectronic couponing method and system utilizing a wireless hand helddevice 40, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. In FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, analogous parts are indicatedby identical reference numerals. Thus, hand held device 40 can retrievecoupon data (i.e., electronic coupons) from coupon database 36 through awireless local computer network, such as, for example, a Personal AreaNetwork (PAN). As indicated in FIG. 4, coupon data may be transferredfrom hand held device 40 through local wireless network 38 to coupondatabase 36.

An example of one type of PAN that may be utilized in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention is “Bluetooth,” atelecommunications standard well known in the wireless networking arts.“Bluetooth” is a telecommunications standard adopted by a consortium ofwireless equipment manufacturers referred to as the Bluetooth SpecialInterest Group (BSIG). Bluetooth is generally a global standard for lowcost wireless data and voice communications.

A current specification for the Bluetooth standard is in a 2.4 GHz ISMfrequency band. Bluetooth is generally based on a short-range radiotransmitter/receiver capability built into small application specificcircuits (ASICs) and embedded into support devices. A Bluetooth-enableddevice generally has 1 mw of transmitter power and is capable ofasymmetrical data transfers of up to 721 Mbps over distances of 10M.Bluetooth permits up to 100 mw of power, which increases frequencyhopping of up to 1600 hops per second.

FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram 70 illustrative of an electroniccouponing method and system, in accordance with preferred embodiments ofthe present invention. According to FIG. 5, hand held device 72retrieves a coupon or coupons (i.e., electronic coupons) in the form ofelectronic data from network 60. Hand held device 70 can communicatewith a point of sale (POS) 88 at a retail establishment through avariety of mechanisms, such as docking station 64, infraredcommunications unit 68 or through a local RF wireless network 71, suchas the Bluetooth-type local wireless network described herein.

POS 88 receives or transmits data at input/output unit 74. Thus, anycoupon data transferred from hand held device 72 may be transferred toPOS 88 through input/output unit 74. Items purchased at the retailestablishment are scanned at POS 88 utilizing a scanner 86 that can readand store, for example, scanned UPC codes. Those skilled in the art canappreciate that although scanner 86 is presented for purposes ofdescribing a particular embodiment of the present invention, other typesof scanning devices, e.g., bar code scanners, may also be utilized inplace of scanner 86. For example, scanning devices that utilizeholographic scanning configurations or RF Tags can also be utilized toscan product information.

Product data (e.g., product prices) obtained as a result of scanningpurchased items may be transferred to CPU 78 for processing with coupondata received from hand held device 72 at input/output unit 74. Thecoupon data transferred from hand held device 72 contains electroniccoupons associated with particular products offered by the retailestablishment. A product database containing product data may be linkedto CPU 78. A coupon database 82 from which coupon data can be stored andretrieved may be also linked to CPU 78.

CPU 78 compares the price of scanned products/items based on productdata stored in product database 84 with the discounted price associatedwith user provided coupon data. If a matching product is identified inproduct database 84, CPU 78 subtracts the discounted price from scannedproduct price. When scanning is complete, CPU provides a total price,which includes coupon discounts and displays this total price at display76 for the user to view. Thereafter, new coupon data can be retrievedfrom coupon database 82 by CPU 78 and transmitted to hand held device 71through input/output unit 74. New coupon data may be used, for example,for future transactions.

The coupon data originally transferred from hand held device 72 can beflagged and stored in coupon database 82 to indicate that such coupondata has already been utilized in a transaction at the retailestablishment by the user of the hand held device 72. Such a flaggingoperation ensures that the user can only utilize the coupon data for asingle purchase transaction. In addition, the coupon data retrieved fromhand held device 72 and utilized during a purchase transaction can bedeleted from the hand held device 72 during a synchronization of handheld device 72 and POS 88. CPU 78 can be instructed to generate andtransmit a message to hand held device 72 during synchronization toindicate that the electronic coupons retrieved from hand held device 72and utilized during the purchase transaction has been successfullyutilized to discount products scanned by scanner 86 or another scanningdevice (e.g., holographic scanner, RF tags) utilized in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 5 to FIG. 12, analogous parts are indicated by identicalreference numerals. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theblock diagrams illustrated in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12 herein representalternative preferred embodiments of the present invention and thatsimilar parts may be utilized to implement such alternative preferredembodiments. Thus, FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram 90 illustrative ofan alternative electronic couponing method and system, in accordancewith preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Block diagram 90 of FIG. 6 is similar to block diagram 70 of FIG. 5, thedifference evident in the addition of an accounting module 80, whichinteracts with POS 92 to keep track of purchase transactions, includingcoupon synchronizations with hand held devices and discounted pricesthereof, that occurred at the POS 92 during a particular period of time,such as for example, a twenty-four period or during a particular shift.Accounting module 80, as illustrated in block diagram 90 of FIG. 6, isdepicted outside the bounds of POS 92. CPU 78 can be linked toaccounting module 80 through a wireless or direct link or through anetwork. Although not illustrated in FIG. 6, those skilled in the artcan appreciate that accounting module 80 can be incorporated at the POSas a program product controlled by CPU 80. Accounting data can then beretrieved for use by accounting personnel/resources of the enterprise.

Such modules, including the other modules discussed herein, can beimplemented in the form of software modules. In the computer programmingarts, a module may be typically implemented as a collection of routinesand data structures that performs particular tasks or implements aparticular abstract data type. Modules generally are composed of twoparts. First, a software module may list the constants, data types,variable, routines, and so forth, which can be accessed by other modulesor routines. Second, a software module may be configured as animplementation, which may be private (i.e., accessible only to themodule), and which contains the source code that actually implements theroutines or subroutines upon which the module is based. Thus, whenreferring to a “module” herein, the present inventors are referring sosuch software modules or implementations thereof. Such modules can beutilized separately or together to form a program product that can beimplemented through signal-bearing media, including transmission mediaand recordable media.

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram 96 illustrating the implementation of acoupon manager 83 at a retail POS, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention. Coupon manager 83 can beimplemented as a software module located in a memory location of anauthentication server, which includes software necessary to authenticateelectronic coupons prior to their redemption. Likewise, coupon manager83 can function as the authentication agent for authenticating couponsprior to their redemption. Operational and system components depicted inFIG. 5 and FIG. 6 herein are analogous to the operational and systemcomponents illustrated in FIG. 7. Block diagram 96 of FIG. 7, however,additionally includes a coupon manager module (i.e., coupon manager 83)in communication with coupon database 82 and CPU 78.

Coupon Manager 83 also can communicate with accounting module 80,whether at the POS 94 or elsewhere, and product manager 87. Productmanger 87 can communicate with product database 84, coupon manager 83,accounting module 80, and CPU 78.

Coupon manager 83 may be implemented as a software module that instructsCPU 78 to retrieve coupon data from hand held device 72 during asynchronization with hand held device 72. Coupon manager 83 can alsoinstruct CPU 78 to transmit data back to hand held device 72 during asynchronization with hand held device 78. In addition, coupon manager 78can instruct CPU 78 to subtract price discounts associated withretrieved coupon data from prices associated with purchased itemsscanned with scanner 86.

Coupon manager 83 may also retrieve new coupons from coupon database 82that may be provided through the POS 94 to hand held device 72 for useduring future purchases. Thus, coupon manager 83 provides productpricing and identification information based on, for example, UPCinformation retrieved from a scanned product by bar code scanner 86.Pricing information may be utilized by CPU 78 to render a subtotal ofitems purchased (i.e., “subtotal” meaning prior to coupon deductions).

Information related to products retrieved from product database duringscanning may be also utilized to associate the scanned product to thecoupons retrieved as coupon data from hand held device 72. If scannedproducts match the coupons retrievable from hand held device 72, then anew total may be rendered based on the value of the coupons subtractedfrom the subtotal, and the matching coupons are retrieved from hand helddevice 72 for the retail establishment to obtain their credit due fromassociated product distributors.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram 100 illustrating the implementationof a credit manger 80 at a retail POS, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention. Credit manager 80 may be asoftware module that retrieves credit data (i.e., credits or awardsassociated with retail/commercial transactions) from a credit database81. Credit manager 80 can be configured to communicate with CPU 78,coupon manager 83, and product manager 87.

In addition, credit manager 85 can communicate with accounting module80. Again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that accountingmodule 80 can be configured at the POS 102 or at another location andlinked to CPU 78 via a network link. Initially, items are scanned at POS102. Hand held device 72 may be synchronized with POS 102 throughinput/output 74 and possible interfacing mechanisms, such as dockingstation 64, infrared communications unit 68 or through local wirelessnetwork 71.

Credit manager 85 can be initialized in response to synchronizationbetween hand held device 72 and POS 102 and/or in response to itemscanning. Credit manager 85 accesses credit database 81 and determinesassociations between scanned items and credit or point informationaccessed from credit database 81. If a matching association may beidentified, credit manager 85 retrieves credits from credit database 81.Credit manager 85 then instructs CPU 78 to process these credits, whichare then transferred by CPU 78 through input/output unit 74 to hand helddevice 72.

The credits can be then stored in a database associated with hand helddevice 72 for later retrieval by hand held device 72. When a certainnumber of credits are earned by the user of hand held device 72following a particular number of transactions, the user can be eligibleto receive discounts on future purchased items, or discounts or awardsof products or services offered by other establishments or enterprisesthat have business alliances in place with the retail establishment ororganization through which the credits were earned by the user.

FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram 100 illustrating the implementation ofcredit manager 85, coupon manager 83, product manager 87, and accountingmodule 80 located away from the retail POS 102, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. POS 102 includes CPU 78connected to input/output unit 74, display 76, and scanner 86. UnlikePOS 102 of FIG. 8, POS 102, as illustrated in FIG. 9, may be configuredto communicate with credit manager 85, coupon manager 83, productmanager 87, and accounting module 80 indirectly rather than directly atPOS 102. Those skilled in the art can thus appreciate that block diagram100 of FIG. 9 may be simply an alternative preferred embodiment of theconfiguration depicted in FIG. 8. The various described modules can beincorporated into POS 102 at, for example, a cash register or cashregister/scanning system, or can be implemented as software modulesresiding in computer memory in a remote computer network linked to POS102.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 illustrate alternative preferred embodiments of thepresent invention that utilize various types of hand held devices. InFIG. 10 to FIG. 12, analogous parts are indicated by like referencenumerals. Thus, FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram 100 illustrating theimplementation of credit manager 85, coupon manager 83, product manager87, and accounting module 80 located away from the retail POS 102, whilecredit database 81, coupon database 82 and product database 84 areconfigured to operate at POS 102.

In FIG. 10, hand held device 73 may be configured as a PDA, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. A “PDA”may include a two-way paging device, such as the Blackberry-family ofpaging devices manufactured by RIM or Smart Phones proposed by numerouswireless industry manufacturers. Hand held device 73 of FIG. 10 may beconfigured as a PDA having wireless or wireline communicationscapabilities or a combination thereof, thus communicating with POS 102through local wireless network 71, infrared (IR/IRF) communications unit68 or docking station 64.

FIG. 11, on the other hand, illustrates a hand held device 77 configuredas a PDA integrated with an optical scanner, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 11, creditmanager 85, coupon manager 83, product manager 87, and accounting module80 are illustrated outside the retail POS, in association with hand helddevice 77. Hand held device 77 may be configured with an optical scannerthat can scan coupon data and electronic coupons thereof from a staticreference or representation, such as a newspaper, magazine, and soforth.

Optical scanner 59 thus retrieves coupons 62 from static reference 57 byscanning or capturing electronic coupon data or other associated data(e.g., product data). In the case of a bar code reader, the electroniccoupons (e.g., coupon data) are scanned. In the case of an opticalreader with capturing capabilities, images representatives of coupons orcoupon data are captured. The coupons (i.e. coupon data) are stored in ahand held device coupon database within hand held device 77 for eventualredemption at POS 102.

Finally, FIG. 12 depicts a hand held device configured as a wirelesstelephone 79, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. Those skilled in the art can appreciate, of course, that suchhand held devices can be configured to combine each of the primaryfeatures of a PDA, pager, and wireless and/or cellular telephone.

In FIG. 13 to FIG. 14, analogous parts are indicated by identicalreference numerals. FIG. 13 thus depicts a system diagram 130illustrating an electronic coupon and credit management system, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. POS 140may be linked to coupon manager 142 and credit manager 144. Couponmanager 142 is analogous to coupon manager 83 of FIG. 7 to FIG. 12.Credit manager 144 is analogous to credit manager 85 of FIG. 8 to FIG.12 herein. POS 140, coupon manager 142, and credit manager 144 togethercomprise retail portion 138 of the electronic coupon and creditmanagement system outlined in system diagram 130. POS 140 is analogousto POS 88, 92, 94, and 102 illustrated in FIG. 5 to FIG. 12 herein.

A security module 152 can be linked to POS 140 to provide securefirewall protection (i.e., security 152). A firewall, well-known in thenetworking and computer arts, can be configured as a security modulethat protects an organization's network against external threats, suchas hackers, coming from another network, such as the Internet. Firewallsprevent computers or other computing devices within a particular networkfrom communicating directly with computers or other devices, such ashand held device 132, external to the network and vice versa. Instead,all communications are generally routed through a proxy server outsideof the organizational network, and the proxy server determines if it issafe to let a particular message or data pass through to the network.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 13, retail portion 138 mayinclude a variety of POS devices (e.g., cash register/scanning systems)linked with computers and servers to provide a local enterprise network.As such, any communication with such a network may be filtered through asecurity module, such as security module 152. Those skilled in the artcan appreciate that coupon manager 142 and credit manager 144 can beincorporated, separately or in combination, directly with POS 140 or maybe linked to POS 140 through a network link, either wireless- orwireline-based.

Hand held device 132 can communicate with a transaction broker 148 and athird-party provider 156 of coupons/credits. Communication between handheld device 132, transaction broker 148, and third-party provider 156can occur utilizing a network 134 linked to a security module 136.Security module 136 can be configured as a firewall, as describedherein. Transaction broker 148 and third-party provider can beconfigured as software modules residing in computer memory in a remotecomputer network, such as the Internet, or other networkedconfigurations.

Network 134 can be configured as a remote computer network, such as theInternet, or a dedicated local network. Third-party provider 156 may belinked to a provider database 158, and transaction broker 148 may belinked to a user profile database contain user profile data. Userprofile database 150 and transaction broker 148 together form atransaction broker portion 146 of system diagram 130. Provider database158 and third-party provider 156 together comprise a third-partyprovider portion 154 of system diagram 130.

If a user desires to obtain electronic coupons to store in hand helddevice 132, the user can communicate with transaction broker 148 orthird-party provider 156 through a network 134. Data transmitted throughnetwork 134 to transaction broker 148 or third-party provider 156 may befiltered through the firewall provided by security module 136.Transaction broker 146 may be a module that can manage credits andcoupons transmitted between all parties depicted in FIG. 13, includingretail portion 138, third-party provider 156, and hand held device 132.

A user can access third-party provider 156 directly through network 134and security module 136 in order to retrieve coupons provided bythird-party provider 156. Third-party provider 156 can be, for example,an organization or enterprise allied with a retail establishment orenterprise associated with POS 140. Retail portion may, for example, beassociated with a grocery chain or shopping mall. Third-party provider156 may, for example, be an airline company offering coupons or airlinecredits. Third-party provider 156 can communicate with retail portion138 through a network 160, which again, may simply be the Internet or adedicated network configured between POS 140 and third-party providerportion 154.

Coupons and associated third-party provider information can be stored inprovider database 158 and retrieved by third-party provider 156 fortransmission to hand held device 132. Likewise, a user of hand helddevice 132 can access transaction broker 148 to download electroniccoupons to hand held device 132 through security module 136 and network134. The coupons are provided by transaction broker 148 to hand helddevice 132 based on a user profile that a user of hand held device 132previously submitted to transaction broker 148. Thus, couponstransmitted by transaction broker 148 to hand held device 132 may bebased on the user's preferences as indicated in an associated userprofile stored in the user profile database 150. A user profile may beconfigured and/or obtained through a network by/from a hand held device132, or a profile may be set up by a user at broker 148. Initial profileset up at the broker may be via a networked hand held device, personalcomputer or other means known in the art (e.g., telephonically).Thereafter, coupon retrieval from broker 148 may be by the hand helddevice 132, networked computer, POS 102 on behalf of the hand helddevice 132 user. In most situations, however, coupon retrieval will befrom a broker 148 to the hand held device 132, and then from the handheld device 132 to the POS 102.

Third-party provider 156 can also provide credit information to theretail establishment associated with POS 140 through network 160,thereby enabling credit manager 164 to maintain and handle transactionsinvolving hand held device 132 and POS 138. The user of hand held devicemust, of course, have previously registered to receive such credits fromthird-party provider 156 either directly or with third-party provider156 or indirectly through transaction broker 148.

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative system diagram 164 illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. As indicated earlier, inFIG. 13 and FIG. 14, like parts are indicated by identical referencenumerals. As illustrated in system diagram 164, additional networks canbe provided which permit hand held device 132 to communicate withtransaction broker 148 or third-party provider 156.

A user can retrieve electronic coupons to be stored in hand held device132 from a coupon source 162. Coupon source 162 may simply be a web sitedisplayed via the Internet from which coupon data may be downloaded, orcoupon source 162 may simply be an implementation of third-partyprovider 156. Coupon source 162 may also be a static reference, such asa bar code or graphical representation of a coupon printed on anewspaper or magazine. In such a case, the bar code or graphicalrepresentation may be associated with one or more electronic coupons.

An optical reader, such as a bar code scanner or other scanning device,can be integrated with a hand held device, such as a PDA or other handheld devices described herein, to retrieve electronic coupons from sucha static reference. The static reference may be composed of coupon datarepresentative of electronic coupons themselves that can be redeemedthrough a hand held device in accordance with the method and systemdescribed herein. The static reference may be also configured as datareadable by an optical scanning device.

Such data can refer the user of the hand held device to an Internet“web” page containing electronic coupons retrievable by the hand helddevice. Such a static reference can be configured as a 12-digit numberin UPC Coupon Code format. In this format, the first digit may be a 5,designating a coupon. The next five digits may represent a manufacturerID. The next 3 digits are a family code. The next 2 digits represent avalue code. The last digit may be a check digit. The hand held device,such as a PDA, can additionally be configured with a holographicscanning device that optically reads holographic data embedded on print,magazine, cloth, or other physical material.

Coupon source 162 thus illustrates the fact that coupon data (i.e.,electronic coupons) are available for retrieval by hand held device 162as indicated herein.

Network 137 can be utilized to transmit data between security module 136and transaction broker 148. Those skilled in the art can appreciate thatnetwork 137 may be analogous to network 134 (i.e., the two networks maybe the same network) or the network may be a stand-alone network linkedto security module 136 and transaction broker 148. Network 137 may alsobe a remote computer network, such as the Internet, from which data canbe retrieved and transmitted.

Likewise, network 135 can be implemented as a dedicated or stand alonenetwork linking security module 136 with a security module 157, ornetwork 135 may simply be a remote computer network, such as theInternet. Security module 157 may be configured as a firewall linkedwith third-provider 156 to provide additional protection to third-partyprovider 156 and its associated provider database 158. Those skilled inthe art can appreciate that security module 157, along with the othersecurity modules described herein, along with modifications thereof, maybe equipped with encryption/decryption routines or subroutines toprovide encryption/decryption capabilities to secure data transferredthrough such security modules. Such security modules may be furthermodified to include password protection routines or subroutines.

FIG. 15 depicts an alternative system diagram 165 illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 aresimilar, with the exception of an additional network 149 located betweensecurity module 157 and coupon source 162. FIG. 15 merely demonstratesthe fact that coupon data may be provided by third-party provider 156through network 149 to hand held device 162 and thereafter redeemedduring a transaction involving hand held device 132 at POS 140.

Again, network 149 may be composed of a dedicated network linking couponsource 162 and third-party provider portion 154 or simply the Internet.In such a case 162, coupon source 162 can be configured as a web siteoperated by an organization or enterprise associated with third-partyprovider 156.

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative system diagram 167 illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. System diagram 167 ofFIG. 16 is similar to system diagram 165 of FIG. 15, with the exceptionof a network located between security module 157 and transaction broker148. Transaction broker 148 can thus communicate with third-partyprovider 156 through network 172 and security module 157 to retrieveinstructions, coupon data, credit data, and other appropriateinformation from third-party provider 156. Such information can then beprovided to a user of hand held device 162 by transaction broker 148.Again, network 172 may be configured as a dedicated network linkingsecurity module 157 to transaction broker 148, or network 172 may simplybe a remote computer network, such as the Internet.

FIG. 17 depicts an alternative system diagram 169 illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. System diagram 169 ofFIG. 16 is similar to system diagram 167 of FIG. 16 with the exceptionof an additional network 176 that permits hand held device 132 tocommunicate with third-party provider portion 154.

Network 176 may be configured as a dedicated network linked to securitymodule 157. In such a case, network 176 may simply be a local networklocated at a third-party provider establishment or premises that can beaccessed by hand held device 132. Network 176 may simply be the Internetfrom which hand held device 176 can download appropriate third-partyprovider information, including electronic coupons, credit information,and other third-party provider information retrieved by third-partyprovider 156 from provider database 158.

FIG. 18 illustrates an alternative system diagram illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. System diagram 171 ofFIG. 18 is similar to system diagram 169 of FIG. 17, with the exceptionthat security module 152 may be located with the realm of retail portion138.

In the previous illustrations, security module 152 was located outsidethe realm of retail portion 138 to indicate that the firewall orsecurity arm of retail portion 138 can be configured at a location otherthan POS 140. For example, hand held device 152 may communicate with POS140 through an electronic kiosk device located in a building or areaaway from the POS. Such an electronic kiosk device may be then linkedvia a network to POS 140. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 18,security module 152 may be configured at the POS, depending on the needsor requirements of the retail establishment or enterprise operating POS140.

FIG. 19 depicts an alternative system diagram 173 illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. System diagram 173differs from the previously illustrated system diagrams in the fact thatthe various portions that make up system diagram 173 and hence, theelectronic coupon and credit management system described herein, cancommunicate with one another over a single network 143. Thus,transaction broker 148 can communicate with network 143 through securitymodule 136.

Third-party provider can communicate with network 143 through securitymodule 157. POS 140 can communicate with network 143 through securitymodule 152. Hand held device 132 can communicate with transaction brokerportion 146, third-party provider portion 154 and retail portion 138through network 143. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatnetwork 143 can be configured as a stand-alone dedicated network or aremote computer network, such as the Internet and associated World WideWeb, paging networks and other Wireless Intelligent Networks (WINs).

FIG. 20 illustrates an alternative system diagram 176 illustrating anelectronic coupon and credit management system, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. System diagram 179 issimilar to system diagram 173 of FIG. 19, with the exception that acoupon source 162 may be located between hand held device 132 andnetwork 143 to illustrate the fact that coupons can be retrieved andstored in hand held device 132 from a coupon source 162 associated withnetwork 143 or simply linked to network 143. Again, coupon source 162may be configured as a web site from which coupon and credit data may beretrieved. Such a web site can be associated with transaction broker 146and/or third-party provider 156 and/or POS 140 or retail portion 138.

FIG. 21 depicts a flow-chart of operations 190 illustrating generalprocedural steps for implementing hand held device operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Asillustrated at block 192, the process may be initiated. A hand helddevice, such as the hand held devices described and illustrated herein,maintains a coupon management module that instructs a CPU, such as CPU10 of FIG. 1, to manage the handling of coupon data received by ortransmitted from the hand held device. Such a module can be configuredas a software module that may be processed at the hand held device, andstored in a memory unit in the hand held device.

As illustrated at decision block 196, a decision may be made, inresponse to initialization of the hand held device coupon managementmodule, to determine if a coupon should be acquired by the hand helddevice. If it is determined not to acquire a coupon, the processterminates, as illustrated thereafter at block 202. If it is determined,however, to acquire a coupon, then as depicted next at block 198, acoupon in the form electronic coupon data may be acquired from a remotesource. Thereafter, as described at block 200, the coupon may be storedin a database in the hand held device associated with the hand helddevice coupon module. The process then terminates, as indicated at block202. It should be apparent after the present teachings that a decisionto acquire coupons may be made manually by the user or automatically bythe hand held device based on the user's profile, thereby relieving theuser of manual coupon acquisition functions.

FIG. 22 illustrates a flow-chart of operations 205 illustrating detailedprocedural steps for implementing hand held device operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Asillustrated at block 206, the process may be initiated. As depictedthereafter at block 208, a hand held device having a coupon managementmodule integrated therein communicates with a POS. Thereafter, asdepicted at block 210, the hand held device may be synchronized with thePOS coupon manager to negotiate a coupon exchange.

It is important to distinguish between the POS coupon manager and thecoupon management module integrated or associated with the hand helddevice. The POS coupon manager is analogous to coupon manager 142illustrated in FIG. 20. The coupon management module described above isincorporated with the hand held device and functions as a couponmanagement module for the hand held device. When negotiation of thecoupon exchange may be then completed, as indicated at block 212,thereafter, as depicted at block 214, a coupon database associated withthe hand held device is reconciled and may also be updated with newcoupons. Reconciliation operations remove used coupons and may add newones to the device.

Coupons utilized during the coupon exchange are deleted from such acoupon database. Again, such a hand held device coupon database may bedistinguished from a POS associated coupon database, such as, forexample, coupon database 82 of FIG. 8. Coupon database 82 of FIG. 8operates in association with a POS. The hand held device coupon databasedescribed above may be integrated with the hand held device and storescoupon information and related coupon data in the hand held deviceitself. The process then terminates, as described at block 216. FIG. 30herein illustrates the interaction of a coupon database and couponmanagement module associated with a hand held device.

FIG. 23 depicts a flow-chart of operations 218 illustrating additionalprocedural steps for carrying out hand held device operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Asindicated at block 220, the process may be initiated. As describedthereafter at block 218, a coupon in the form electronic coupon data canbe acquired from a store or retail establishment directly through adocking station or through wireless means, such as, for example, awireless tag.

Acquisition of such coupon data is generally handled through the couponmanagement module associated with the hand held device (e.g., refer toFIG. 30). Thereafter, the hand held device can communicate with a POS,as indicated at block 222. The hand held device coupon management modulemay be synchronized with the POS associated coupon manager to negotiatea coupon exchange, as depicted at block 224. Negotiation with the POScan be then completed, as described at block 226. The process thenterminates, as indicated at block 228.

FIG. 24 illustrates a flow-chart of operations 240 illustratingprocedural steps for carrying out point of sale (POS) operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Theprocess can be initiated, as indicated at block 242, and thereafter, asdepicted at block 244, purchased items are scanned at the POS utilizinga scanning device, such as scanner 86 of FIG. 5 to FIG. 12. A subtotalcan be then rendered, as indicated at block 246.

The POS can communicate with the hand held device, as illustrated atblock 248, the POS associated coupon manager can be thereby synchronizedwith the hand held device coupon management module to negotiate a couponexchange, as indicated at block 250. If applicable, a new total can becalculated, as depicted at block 254, based on the subtraction of coupondiscounts from the rendered subtotal. A new total can be then rendered,as illustrated at 254, which reflects any price discounts associatedwith the coupon data synchronized and negotiated during the couponexchange between the hand held device and the POS. The process thenterminates, as described at block 256.

FIG. 25 depicts a flow-chart of operations 260 illustrating proceduralsteps for carrying out both hand device and point of sale (POS)operations, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. Hand held device operations are initiated, as illustrated atblock 262. POS operations are initiated, as indicated at block 269. Asdepicted at block 264, electronic coupons are the acquired by the handheld device. The hand held device can be then taken to the POS during anitem purchase, as illustrated at block 266.

At the POS, the hand held device communicates with the POS by wirelesstransmission of data or through a dedicated wireline docking stationlinked with, for example, a cash register/scanning system. As depictednext at block 270, items to be purchased at the retail establishment arescanned at the POS. Thereafter, a subtotal can be rendered, as depictedat block 272. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that suchoperations may be performed in alternative ordering, as indicated by thedashed connecting arrows in FIG. 25.

Following completion of the operation illustrated at block 272, the POScoupon manager (e.g., coupon manager 83 of FIG. 8) can be synchronizedwith the hand held device coupon management module (e.g., couponmanagement module 430 of FIG. 30) to negotiate the coupon exchange.Thereafter, as indicated at block 276 the POS coupon database (e.g.,coupon database 82 of FIG. 8) can be reconciled with the hand helddevice coupon database (e.g., hand held device coupon database 432 ofFIG. 30). Hand held device operations then terminate, as illustrated atblock 277.

Following completion of the operation described at block 274, a newtotal can be calculated which takes into account subtracted discountsbased on coupons provided to the POS from the hand held device. The newtotal can be then rendered on, for example, a display screen of a cashregister and/or the hand held device itself, as illustrated at block278. POS operations for the transaction can be then terminated, asdepicted at block 280.

FIG. 26 illustrates a flow-chart of operations 290 illustratingprocedural steps for carrying out customer and retail operations, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. A dashedline depicted in FIG. 26 separates customer operations from retailoperations in attempt to distinguish between operations that primarilyinvolve the hand held device and operations primarily involving theretail establishment and POS. Thus, as depicted at block 292, theprocess can be initiated. Thereafter, as described at block 294, a userutilizing a hand held device acquires a coupon.

The hand held device can be then placed in communication with the POS,as indicated at block 296. As illustrated next at block 298, The POScoupon manager can be synchronized with the hand held device couponmanagement module. Thereafter, as depicted at block 300, a coupondatabase associated with the hand held device (e.g., hand held devicecoupon database 432 of FIG. 30 and FIG. 31) can be accessed. Coupon datacan be then retrieved from the hand held device coupon database, asillustrated at block 302.

Next, as indicated at block 304, a product manager correlates couponsretrieved from the hand held device with products scanned and to bepurchased at the POS. An example of such a product manager is productmanager 87 of FIG. 8. Correlating product data can be then identified,as indicated at block 306, and thereafter, as illustrated at block 308,a new total can be calculated by subtracting correlating coupon data. Anew total can be then rendered, as described at block 310. The processthen ends, as illustrated at block 312.

FIG. 27 depicts a flow-chart of operations 320 illustrating steps forimplementing a credit manager module, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention. An example of such a creditmanager is credit manager 144 of FIG. 5 to FIG. 12. A credit managermodule (or simply “credit manager”) can be initiated, as illustrated atblock 322. An item or product to be purchased can be scanned at the POS,as illustrated at block 323. A hand held device can be in communicationwith the POS, as indicated at block 324 and thereafter, as depicted atblock 326, the credit manager associated with the POS (e.g., creditmanager 85 of FIG. 8) can be initialized.

In response to initialization of the credit manager, as indicated atblock 328, the POS credit manager accesses a credit database (e.g.,credit database 81 of FIG. 8). As illustrated next at block 330, the POScredit manager determines associations between scanned items and creditinformation, including credits or points, accessed from the creditdatabase. Thereafter, as depicted at decision block 332, it must bedetermined if any matches are made between scanned items andcredits/points accessed from the credit database.

If a match is not found for a particular scanned item, then as depictedat block 324, a comparison must be performed again, as illustrated viaconnecting symbol 335 and block 330. If, however, a match is identified,the credit manager retrieves credits/points from the credit database, asdescribed at block 336. The credits are then processed, as illustratedat block 338, and thereafter transferred, as described at block 340, toa credit database associated with the hand held device. Such a hand helddevice credit database may be integrated with the hand held deviceitself. The process can be then terminated, as illustrated at block 348.

FIG. 28 illustrates an entity diagram 400 illustrating possibleattributes for a wireless network, in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art canappreciate that wireless network 414 may be utilized in place of or inassociation with network 143 of FIG. 19 and FIG. 20. Such a wirelessnetwork can be utilized to permit a hand held device, such as hand helddevice 132 of FIG. 20 to communicate with a POS, third-party providerand/or a transaction broker.

Those skilled in the art can further appreciate that a variety ofpossible wireless communications and networking configurations may beutilized to implement wireless network 414. Wireless network 414 may be,for example, implemented according to a variety of wireless protocols,including satellite, cellular, and direct RF or IR communications.Satellite communications, for example, well known in the art and can beimplemented in combination with a network. A hand held device cancommunicate with a POS, third-party provider of coupons/credits, retailestablishment, or transaction broker to acquire, transmit, and negotiatecoupon exchanges through wireless network 414. Wireless network 414 canbe implemented as a single network type (e.g., Bluetooth) or a networkbased on a combination of network types (e.g., GSM, CDMA, etc).

Wireless network 414 can be configured as a CDPD (Cellular DigitalPacket Data) network 413, well-known in the networking arts. CDPD can bea TCP/IP based technology that supports Point-to-Point (PPP) or SerialLine Internet Protocol (SLIP) wireless connections to mobile devices,such as the hand held devices described and illustrated herein. Cellularservice is generally available throughout the world from major serviceproviders. Data can be transferred over switched PSTN circuits orpacket-switched network utilizing CDPD protocols.

Current restrictions of CDPD are not meant to limit the range orimplementation of the method and system described herein, but aredescribed herein for illustrative purposes only. It is anticipated thatCDPD will be continually developed, and that such new developments canbe implemented in accordance with the present invention.

Wireless network 414 can be also configured as a Personal Area Network402 or Bluetooth, as described herein. Bluetooth was adopted by aconsortium of wireless equipment manufacturers referred to at theBluetooth Special Interest Group (BSIG), and has emerged as a globalstandard for low cost wireless data and voice communication. Currentspecifications for this standard call for a 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band.Bluetooth technology is generally based on a short-range radiotransmitter/receiver built into small application specific circuits(ASICS) and embedded into support devices, such as the hand held devicesdescribed and illustrated herein.

The Bluetooth standard permits up to 100 mw of power, which can increasethe range to 100 M. In addition, Bluetooth can support up to three voicechannels. Utilizing short data packets and frequency hopping of up to1600 hops per second, Bluetooth is a wireless technology that can beutilized to enable the implementation of the method and system describedherein. Current restrictions of Bluetooth are not meant to limit therange or implementation of the present invention, but are describedherein for illustrative purposes only. It is anticipated Bluetooth willbe continually developed, and that such new developments can beimplemented in accordance with the present invention.

Wireless network 414 can also be configured as a GSM network 404. GSM(Global System for Mobile Communication) and PCS (PersonalCommunications Systems) networks, both well-known in thetelecommunications arts, generally operate in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and1900 MHz range. PCS initiates narrowband digital communications in the900 MHz range for paging, and broadband digital communications in the1900 MHz band for cellular telephone service. In the United States, PCS1900 is equivalent to GSM 1900. GSM operates in the 900 MHz, 1800-1900MHz frequency bands, while GSM 1800 is widely utilized throughout Europeand many other parts of the world.

In the United States, GSM 1900 is equivalent to PCS 1900, therebyenabling the compatibility of these two types of networks. Currentrestrictions of GSM and PCS are not meant to limit the range orimplementation of the present invention, but are described herein forillustrative purposes only. It is anticipated that GSM and PCS will becontinually developed, and that such new developments can be implementedin accordance with the present invention.

Wireless network 414 can be also implemented as a GPRS network 406. GPRStechnology, well-known in the telecommunications arts, bridges the gapbetween current wireless technologies and the so-called “nextgeneration” of wireless technologies referred to frequently as thethird-generation or 3G wireless technologies. GPRS is generallyimplemented as a packet-data transmission network that can provide datatransfer rates up to 115 Kbps. GPRS can be implemented with CDMA andTDMA technology and supports X.25 and IP communications protocols, allwell-known in the telecommunications arts. GPRS also enables features,such as Voice over IP (VOIP) and multimedia services. Currentrestrictions of GPRS are not meant to limit the range or implementationof the present invention, but are described herein for illustrativepurposes only. It is anticipated that GPRS will be continually developedand that such new developments can be implemented in accordance with thepresent invention.

Wireless network 414 can be implemented as a CDMA network 408. CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access) is a protocol standard based on IS-95CDMA, also referred to frequently in the telecommunications arts asCDMA-1. IS-95 CDMA is generally configured as a digital wireless networkthat defines how a single channel can be segmented into multiplechannels utilizing a pseudo-random signal (or code) to identifyinformation associated with each user. Because CDMA networks spread eachcall over more than 4.4 trillion channels across the entire frequencyband, it is much more immune to interference than most other wirelessnetworks and generally can support more users per channel.

Currently, CDMA can support data at speeds up to 14.4 Kbps. Wirelessnetwork 414 can also be configured with a form of CDMA technology knownas wideband CDMA (W-CDMA). Wideband CDMA is also referred to as CDMA2000 in North America. W-CDMA can be utilized to increase transfer ratesutilizing multiple 1.25 MHz cellular channels. Current restrictions ofCDMA and W-CDMA are not meant to limit the range or implementation ofthe present invention, but are described herein for illustrativepurposes only. It is anticipated that CDMA and W-CDMA will becontinually developed and that such new developments can be implementedin accordance with the present invention.

Wireless network 414 can be also implemented as a paging network 410.Such paging networks, well-known in the telecommunications arts, can beimplemented in accordance with the present invention to enabletransmission or receipt of data over the TME/X protocol, also well-knownin the telecommunications arts. Such a protocol enables notification inmessaging and two-way data coverage utilizing satellite technology and anetwork of base stations geographically located throughout a particulargeographical region. Paging network 410 can be configured to processenhanced messaging applications.

Unified messaging solutions can be utilized in accordance with wirelessnetwork 414 to permit carriers and Internet service providers to managecustomer e-mail, voice messages and fax images and can facilitatedelivery of these communications to PDAs, telephony devices, pagers,personal computers and other capable information retrieval devices,wired or wireless.

Current restrictions of such paging networks are not meant to limit therange or implementation of the present invention, but are describedherein for illustrative purposes only. It is anticipated that suchpaging networks, including those based on the TME/X protocol, will becontinually developed and that such new developments can be implementedin accordance with the present invention.

Wireless network 414 can also be configured as a TDMA network 412. TDMA(Time Division Multiple Access) is a telecommunications network utilizedto separate multiple conversation transmissions over a finite frequencyallocation of through-the-air bandwidth. TDMA can be utilized inaccordance with the present invention to allocate a discrete amount offrequency bandwidth to each user in a TDMA network to permit manysimultaneous conversations or transmission of data. Each user isassigned a specific timeslot for transmission. A digital cellularcommunications system that utilizes TDMA typically assigns 10 timeslotsfor each frequency channel.

A hand held device operating in association with a TDMA network sendsbursts or packets of information during each timeslot. Such packets ofinformation are then reassembled by the receiving equipment into theoriginal voice or data/information components. Current restrictions ofsuch TDMA networks are not meant to limit the range or implementation ofthe present invention, but are described herein for illustrativepurposes only. It is anticipated that TDMA networks will be continuallydeveloped and that such new developments can be implemented inaccordance with the present invention.

Wireless network 414 can also be configured as a WIN (WirelessIntelligent Network) 415. WIN is generally known as the architecture ofthe wireless switched network that allows carriers to provide enhancedand customized services for mobile telephones. Intelligent wirelessnetworks generally include the use of mobile switching centers (MSCs)having access to network servers and databases such as Home LocationRegisters (HLRs) and Visiting Location Registers (VLRs), for providingapplications and data to networks, service providers and servicesubscribers (wireless device users).

Local number portability allows wireless subscribers to make and receivecalls anywhere—regardless of their local calling area. Roamingsubscribers are also able to receive more services, such as callwaiting, three-way calling and call forwarding. A HLR is a database thatcontains semipermanent mobile subscriber (wireless device user)information for wireless carriers' entire subscriber base.

HLR subscriber information includes identity, service subscriptioninformation, location information (the identity of the currently servingVLR to enable routing of communications), service restrictions andsupplementary services/information. HLRs handle SS7 transactions incooperation with Mobile Switching Centers and VLR nodes, which requestinformation from the HLR or update the information contained within theHLR.

The HLR also initiates transactions with VLRs to complete incoming callsand update subscriber data. Traditional wireless network design is basedon the utilization of a single HLR for each wireless network, but growthconsiderations are prompting carriers to consider multiple HLRtopologies.

The VLR is also a database that contains temporary informationconcerning the mobile subscribers currently located in a given MSCserving area, but whose HLR is elsewhere. When a mobile subscriber roamsaway from the HLR location into a remote location, SS7 messages are usedto obtain information about the subscriber from the HLR, and to create atemporary record for the subscriber in the VLR.

Signaling System No. 7 (referred to as SS7 or C7) is a global standardfor telecommunications. In the past the SS7 standard has defined theprocedures and protocol by which network elements in the public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) exchange information over a digital signalingnetwork to effect wireless and wireline call setup, routing, control,services, enhanced features and secure communications. Such systems andstandards may utilized to implement wireless network 414, in accordancewith the present invention.

Improved operating systems and protocols allow Graphical User Interfaces(GUIs) to provide an environment that displays user options (e.g.,graphical symbols, icons or photographs) on a wireless device's screen.Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) is a currently available standardthat performs as a universal language for data, making documents moreinterchangeable. XML allows information to be used in a variety offormats for different devices, including PCs, PDAs and web-enabledmobile phones.

XML enables documents to be exchanged even where the documents werecreated and/or are generally used by different software applications.XML may effectively enable one system to translate what another systemssends. As a result of data transfer improvements, wireless device GUIscan be utilized in accordance with a hand held device and wirelessnetwork 414, whether configured as a paging network or another networktype, to render images on the hand held device that closely representthe imaging capabilities available on desktop computing devices.

FIG. 29 depicts a block diagram 416 illustrating the interaction ofwireless network 414, a hand held device 416, and cash managementmodules, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. Cash management modules include a third-party provider 418,coupon manager 450, credit manager 422, product manager 424 and POS 426.Wireless network 414 of FIG. 29 is analogous to wireless network 414 ofFIG. 28. In FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, like parts are indicated by identicalreference numerals.

FIG. 30 illustrates a block diagram of a hand held device 416, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Handheld device 416 includes a coupon management module 430, which cancommunicate with a hand held device coupon database 432. Hand helddevice 416 of FIG. 30 is analogous to hand held device 416 of FIG. 29and the other hand held devices described and illustrated herein, suchas hand held device 11 of FIG. 1. Thus, in FIGS. 30 and 31, like partsare indicated by like reference numerals.

A user profile associated with coupon management module 430 may bestored within hand held device coupon database 432 or may be provided asa separate user profile module 433. Again, the user profile may be usedto filter out unwanted coupons during hand held device synchronizationwith network-based coupon providers (e.g., brokers, third-partyproviders) or the POS. User profiling enables more personalized,targeted couponing exchanges with a use of hand held device 416. Use ofa profile may allow a user to retrieve targeted (profile matching)coupons automatically from any coupon providing sources achievingcommunication with the hand held device 416.

FIG. 31 depicts a block diagram 439 of a hand held device 431 configuredwith an optical scanner module 435 and optical scanner 437, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Handheld device 431 is analogous to hand held device 416 of FIG. 30. Handheld device 431 includes a CPU 10. CPU 10 of FIG. 31 is analogous to CPU10 of FIG. 1. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although CPU10 is not depicted in FIG. 30, hand held device 416 of FIG. 30 operatesin association with such a CPU.

Thus, FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 are merely high level representations of ahand held device. Optical scanner module 435 functions as scanningsoftware for optical scanner 437 and communicates with CPU 10 and couponmanagement module 430 to retrieve and store coupon data (i.e.,electronic coupons) from static references, such as a bar code. Thus,those skilled in the art can appreciate that optical scanner 437 may beconfigured as a bar code reader.

Optical scanner 437 may also be configured as an optical scanner thatretrieves images. For example, optical scanner 437 can scan an imagesuch as a photograph or other graphical representation from a staticreference source, such as a magazine or newspaper, and store suchinformation within a database in hand held device 431.

If such graphical representations contain coupon data therein orgraphical representations of coupons, such graphical representations canbe stored within hand held device coupon database 432 as coupon data.Optical scanner 437 may also be implemented as a holographic scanner forscanning and retrieving holographic representations embedded asholograms or holographic representations on newspapers, magazines,cloth, etc.

The networks described herein can be configured also as a client/serverarchitecture, such as the Internet, to permit users to acquire couponsor communicate with third-party providers, transaction brokers, or theretail establishment and engage in coupon exchanges initiated from thehand held device. Thus, for example, network 143 of FIG. 19 and FIG. 20can be configured as such a client/server architecture. FIGS. 31 to 33describe a network based on a client/server architecture that can beutilized in association with the present invention.

In FIG. 32, FIG. 33, and FIG. 34, like parts are indicated by identicalreference numerals. FIG. 31 illustrates a block diagram illustrative ofa client/server architecture in accordance with preferred embodiments ofthe present invention. In FIG. 31, user requests 591 for data are sentby a client application program 592 to a server 588. Server 588 can be aremote computer system accessible over the Internet or othercommunication networks. Client application program 592 may be utilizedin association with a hand held device.

Server 588 performs scanning and searching of raw (e.g., unprocessed)information sources (e.g., newswire feeds or news groups) and, basedupon these user requests, presents the filtered electronic informationas server responses 593 to the client process. The client process may beactive in a first computer system, and the server process may be activein a second computer system, communicating with one another over acommunications medium, thus providing distributed functionality andallowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gatheringcapabilities of the server.

FIG. 32 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a client/serverarchitecture in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. Although the client and server are processes that areoperative within two computer systems, these processes being generatedfrom a high-level programming language (e.g., PERL), which can beinterpreted and executed in a computer system at runtime (e.g., aworkstation), it can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that theymay be implemented in a variety of hardware devices, either programmedor dedicated.

Client 592 and server 588 communicate utilizing the functionalityprovided by HTTP. Active within client 592 can be a first process,browser 572, which establishes connections with server 588, and presentsinformation to the user. Any number of commercially or publiclyavailable browsers can be utilized in various implementations inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Forexample, a browser, such as Netscape™, can provide the functionalityspecified under HTTP. “Netscape” is a trademark of Netscape, Inc.

Server 588 executes the corresponding server software, which presentsinformation to the client in the form of HTTP responses 590. The HTTPresponses 590 correspond with the Web pages represented using HTML, orother data generated by server 588. Server 588 provides HTML 594. Withcertain browsers, a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) 596 can be alsoprovided, which allows the client program to direct server 588 tocommence execution of a specified program contained within server 588.This may include a search engine that scans received information in theserver for presentation to the user controlling the client.

By utilizing this interface, and HTTP responses 590, server 588 maynotify the client of the results of that execution upon completion.Common Gateway Interface (CGI) 596 can be one form of a gateway, adevice utilized to connect dissimilar networks (i.e., networks utilizingdifferent communications protocols) so that electronic information canbe passed from one network to the other. Gateways transfer electronicinformation, converting such information to a form compatible with theprotocols used by the second network for transport and delivery.

In order to control the parameters of the execution of thisserver-resident process, the client may direct the filling out ofcertain “forms” from the browser. This can be provided by the“fill-in-forms” functionality (i.e., forms 598), which can be providedby some browsers, such as the Netscape-brand browser described herein.This functionality allows the user via a client application program tospecify terms in which the server causes an application program tofunction (e.g., terms or keywords contained in the types ofstories/articles, which are of interest to the user). This functionalitycan be an integral part of the search engine.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrative of a computer network, which can beimplemented in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. Computer network is representative of the Internet, which canbe described as a known computer network based on the client-servermodel discussed herein. Conceptually, the Internet includes a largenetwork of servers 588 that are accessible by clients 592, typicallyusers of personal computers, through some private Internet accessprovider 584 (e.g., such as Internet America) or an on-line serviceprovider 586 (e.g., such as America On-Line, Prodigy, Juno, and thelike).

Each of the clients 592 may run a browser to access servers 88 via theaccess providers. Each server 588 operates a so-called “Web site” thatsupports files in the form of documents and web pages. A network path toservers 88 is identified by a Universal Resource Locator (URL) having aknown syntax for defining a network collection. Computer network 580 canthus be considered a Web-based computer network.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the hand held devicesdiscussed herein may be modified to incorporate other computer-based andprocessing features. For example, a hand held device utilized inaccordance with the present invention, may be configured with so-called“smart card” technology. Smart cards are generally known in the art ascredit-card sized plastic cards with an embedded computer chip. The chipcan either be a microprocessor with internal memory or a memory chipwith non-programmable logic. The chip connection can be configured viadirect physical contact or remotely through a contactlesselectromagnetic interface.

Smart cards may be generally configured as either a contact orcontactless smart card, or a combination thereof. A contact smart cardrequires insertion into a smart card reader with a direct connection toa conductive micromodule on the surface of the card. Such a micromoduleis generally gold plated. Transmission of commands, data, and cardstatus takes place through such physical contact points.

A contactless card requires only close proximity to a reader. Both thereader and the card may be implemented with antenna providing acontactless link that permits the devices to communicate with oneanother. Contactless cards can also maintain internal chip power or anelectromagnetic signal (e.g., RF tagging technology). Two additionalcategories of smart codes, well known in the art, which are based oncontact and contactless cards are the so-called Combi cards and Hybridcards.

A Hybrid card generally can be equipped with two chips, each with arespective contact and contactless interface. The two chips are notconnected, but for many applications, this Hybrid serves the needs ofconsumers and card issuers. The Combi card can be generally based on asingle chip and can be generally configured with both a contact andcontactless interface.

Chips utilized in such smart cards are generally based on microprocessorchips or memory chips. Smart cards based on memory chips depend on thesecurity of the card reader for their processing and can be utilizedwhen low to medium security requirements. A microprocessor chip can add,delete and otherwise manipulate information in its memory.Microprocessor-based memory cards typically contain microprocessor chipswith 8, 16, and 32 bit architectures.

Thus, a smart card in accordance with the method and system describedherein would not serve to replace a hand held device, such as a PDA. Thesmart card would instead function as a supplementary feature of the PDA.The hand held device can be configured to operate in association with asmart card adapted for use with the hand held device. In the case of aPDA, for example, the smart card can retrieve coupon data form a contactor contactless interface. The data can be stored in a memory locationwith the smart card. The smart card can be then temporarily connected tothe PDA through a cartridge or other hardware interface to allow coupondata to be transferred from the smart card to the PDA. The PDA can thentransfer coupon data to a POS for processing and redemption, accordingto the method and system described herein.

FIG. 35 illustrates a top view of a hand held device 700 and a smartcard 706 adapted for use with hand held device 700, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention. Hand held device 700 maybe configured as a PDA or other hand held device. For example, hand helddevice 700 is analogous to hand held device 11 of FIG. 1 and other handheld device embodiments described herein, such as hand held device 431of FIG. 31. Hand held device 700 is thus equipped with a display unit702 interfaced with user controls, such as user control 704.

Smart card 706 can be inserted through a slot in hand held device 700.Smart card 706 can be integrated with a recorder/writer for writing datato smart card 706 or reading data from smart card 706 or otherwisemodifying a memory of smart card 706. Thus, smart card 706 can retrievecoupon data from hand held device 700 or transfer coupon data stored ina memory of smart card 706 to a memory location within hand held device700, such as a hand held device coupon database.

FIG. 36 depicts a side view of hand held device 700 depicted in FIG. 35and a slot 708 for inserting smart card into hand held device 700, inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Slot 708can be sized to receive smart card 706 into hand held device 700. FIG.37 illustrates a hand held device 710 configured with smart card 706adapted for use with hand held device 710 and a scanner 720 integratedwith hand held device 710, in accordance with preferred embodiments ofthe present invention.

Hand held device 710 of FIG. 37 is analogous to hand held device 700 ofFIGS. 35 and 36, the difference being that hand held device 710 includesscanner 720 for scanning or capturing images from static references orrepresentations. Scanner 720 can thus be utilized by a user to retrieveelectronic coupons graphically displayed on a static reference, such asa newspaper, magazine, or so forth. Scanner 720 can be configured as abar code scanner for retrieving coded information associated withelectronic coupon data.

Scanner 720 can be additionally configured as an optical scanner thatcaptures graphical images representative of electronic coupons orassociated coupon data. The captured information can be then processedand stored with a hand held device coupon database with hand held device710. Scanner 720 can be also configured as a plug-in module, such asthose utilized in the popular Handspring Visor PDA. Furthermore, aplug-in may be adapted to incorporate both a smart card read/writeportal and scanning hardware and/or associated software. It should alsobe appreciated based on the teachings herein that a plug-in may beadapted to combine smart card reader/writer portal and RF communicationscapabilities in order to provide applications, such as remote wirelesscredit card verification.

Based on the foregoing, those skilled in the art can appreciate thatmethods and systems can be implemented according to the presentinvention. Generally, according to the method and system describedherein, electronic coupons are processed through hand held devices.Initially, a POS can be synchronized with a hand held device havingcoupon and/or credit data therein. The redemption of electronic couponsat the POS can be managed through a coupon manager associated with acoupon database linked to the POS, in response to synchronizing the POSwith the hand held device.

Electronic coupon in the form of coupon data can be retrieved from ahand held device coupon database within the hand held device. Couponretrieval between a coupon management module associated with the handheld device and the coupon manager associated with the coupon databaselinked to the POS can thereafter be coordinated.

The coupon manager associated with the POS (i.e., the coupon databaselinked to the POS) can be synchronized with the coupon management moduleassociated with the hand held device. At least one electronic coupon canbe then transferred from the hand held device coupon database to thePOS, in response to synchronizing the coupon manager with the couponmanagement module associated with the hand held device.

At least one item can be scanned from the POS. A product databaseassociated with the POS can be accessed, wherein the product databasecontains product data therein.

A subtotal can be rendered for at least one item scanned, in response toscanning the item at the POS. Electronic coupons retrieved from the handheld device coupon database are then correlated with product dataaccessed from the product database and the item scanned at the POS.Thereafter, correlating product data and price discounts associated withthe electronic coupons retrieved from the hand held device coupondatabase are identified.

A new total for the items scanned at the POS can be then calculated, inresponse to identifying correlating product data and price discountsassociated with the electronic coupons retrieved from the hand helddevice coupon database. A new total can be then rendered in a displayarea of the hand held device.

The coupon manager can be generally permitted to communicate with aproduct manager associated with the product database. The coupon managercan be also permitted to communicate with a credit manager associatedwith a credit database linked to the POS. A user profile can beassociated with the hand held device coupon database and/or the handheld device coupon management module.

The coupon manager may communicate with the POS through a network.Likewise, synchronization of the POS and the hand held device may occurthrough a network. Such a network may be configured as a wirelessnetwork and/or, for example, a client/server type network. The hand helddevice may be configured as a PDA, a wireless PDA, a pager, aWAP-enabled telecommunications device or other configurations thereof,such as a hand held device integrated with a smart card adapter.

A hand held device utilized in accordance with the present invention canbe also configured with an optical scanner for retrieving, scanning,and/or capturing data from static references. Such a scanner may beconfigured, for example, as a bar code scanner that permits a user ofthe hand held device to retrieve coupon data from a static referencethrough the bar code scanner and thereafter store the coupon data in thehand held device coupon database within the hand held device. Theoptical scanner may also be implemented as a holographic image scannerfor reading and capturing holographic-based images containing coupondata therein.

Based on the foregoing, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatthe present invention disclosed herein describes a method and system forprocessing negotiable economic credits through a hand held device inassociation with a third-party provider communicative with the hand helddevice. At least one negotiable economic credit can be transferred froma third-party provider communicative with the hand held device to thehand held device. Examples of such negotiable economic credits, asdescribed herein, include coupons and credits thereof, such as frequentflyer miles offered by airlines and other organizations to attract andretain customers.

The negotiable economic credit can be stored within a memory of the handheld device for retrieval and processing at a POS associated with aretail establishment. The negotiable economic credit can be associatedwith a security module for protecting the privacy of the negotiableeconomic credit. A user profile can be compiled for utilization duringthe retrieval of the negotiable economic credit, in response to userinput. The user profile can be stored in a database associated with thethird-party provider and a database associated with the hand helddevice.

A negotiable economic credit or negotiable economic credits can betransferred from the third-party provider to the hand held devicethrough a network that can be wireline, wireless or a combinationthereof. Data can be transmitted through a wireless network throughwireless communications, relying on telecommunications protocols, suchas WAP, CDMA, Bluetooth, and so forth, as described herein.

The third-party provider can be permitted to communicate with atransaction broker so that negotiable economic credits may be redeemedby the hand held device at the POS. Examples of such third-partyproviders and transaction brokers are provider in FIGS. 19 and 20 asthird-party provider 156 and transaction broker 148. According to anembodiment of the present invention, negotiable economic credits areprocessed through a hand held device.

At least one negotiable economic credit can be transferred to a retailenterprise for use at a POS on behalf of a credit redemption request bya hand held device. In addition the negotiable economic credit orcredits can be transferred to a retail enterprise for use at a POS onbehalf of a credit redemption request by a hand held device, in responseto synchronization of the POS and the hand held device.

The negotiable economic credits can be redeemed at the POS, in responseto transferring the negotiable economic credit or credits to the POSfrom the hand held device. Additionally, negotiable economic credits canbe transferred to a retail enterprise for use at a POS, such as POS 140of FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 on behalf of a credit redemption request by ahand held device, in response to a request by the retail enterprise toreward purchases at the POS.

A system for processing negotiable economic credits through a hand helddevice in association with a third-party provider communicative with thehand held device can be configured with a transfer module fortransferring negotiable economic credits from a third-party providercommunicative with the hand held device to the hand held device. Thesystem can also be implemented with a storage module for storingnegotiable economic credits within a memory of the hand held device forretrieval and processing at a POS.

The negotiable economic credits can be associated with a security modulefor protecting the privacy of transferred negotiable economic credits.Such a security module (e.g., security module 157 of FIGS. 19 and 20)can be configured with encryption/decryption and password protectionfeatures, well known in the art.

The system can be further configured with a user profile for utilizationduring retrieval of the negotiable economic credits, in response to userinput. The user of the hand held device can register with thethird-party provider to establish a user profile stored in a database.The user profile can be stored in a database, such as provider database158 of FIG. 19 associated with third-party provider 156 and/or inanother database, such as a database associated with a transactionbroker (e.g., user profile database 150).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the third-party providermay be associated or linked to other databases or memory locations andthat user profile data may be stored therein.

The system can be further configured with a storage module for storingthe user profile in a database associated with the third-party provider(e.g., provider database 158). The system can also incorporate a storagemodule for storing the user profile in a database within the hand helddevice (e.g., user profile module 433 of FIG. 31).

The transaction broker can be permitted to communicate with thethird-party broker so that such credits may be thereafter redeemed bythe hand held device at the POS. This can be particularly advantageousto the user of the hand held device because the user of the hand helddevice can thus communicate directly with the third-party provider orthe transaction broker if he or she so chooses, utilizing a hand helddevice.

The system can be further modified to include a transfer module fortransferring at least one negotiable economic credit to a retailenterprise for use at a POS on behalf of a credit redemption request bya hand held device. Additionally, the system can be configured tooperate in association with a transfer module for transferringnegotiable economic credits to a retail enterprise for use at a POS onbehalf of a credit redemption request by a hand held device, in responseto synchronization of the POS and the hand held device.

Additionally, the system can be configured with a redemption module forredeeming negotiable economic credits at the POS, in response totransferring the negotiable economic credits to the POS from the handheld device. Furthermore, the system can be configured to include atransfer module for transferring negotiable economic credits to a retailenterprise for use at a POS on behalf of a credit redemption request bya hand held device, in response to a request by the retail enterprise tothereby reward purchases at a POS associated with the retail enterpriseby a hand held device.

The POS itself may be configured, for example, in accordance with themethods and systems of the present invention, as a kiosk device. Such akiosk device may comprise an internet or intranet enabled kiosk deviceand may include other capabilities as, for example, an ATM machine. Akiosk can be configured for example, as a freestanding computer orterminal that provides information to the public, usually through amultimedia display. The POS may actually comprise an ATM machine and/orthe capabilities of an ATM machine. Additionally, the POS may beconfigured, for example, as or with the capabilities of a vendingmachine.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented to bestexplain the present invention and its practical application and tothereby enable those skilled in the art to make and utilize theinvention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that theforegoing description and examples have been presented for the purposeof illustration and example only. The description as set forth is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teaching without departing from the spirit and scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A hand held device, comprising: a processor; a wireless controllerconfigured to transmit and receive data through a wireless datacommunication network; and a memory, configured to store at leastinstructions executable by the processor to perform functions, whereinthe functions include: requesting at least one negotiable economiccredit via the wireless controller; receiving the at least onenegotiable economic credit via the wireless controller; storing the atleast one negotiable economic credit; retrieving the at least onenegotiable economic credit; sending the at least one negotiable economiccredit via the wireless controller; and after sending the at least onenegotiable economic credit, receiving via the wireless controller amessage indicating a negotiable economic credit was utilized.
 2. Thehand held device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:responsive to the message indicating the negotiable economic credit wasutilized, deleting the stored negotiable economic credit that wasutilized.
 3. The hand held device of claim 1, wherein the at least onenegotiable economic credit includes an electronic coupon.
 4. The handheld device of claim 3, wherein requesting the at least one negotiableeconomic credit via the wireless controller comprises accessing a coupondatabase via the wireless controller.
 5. The hand held device of claim4, wherein receiving the at least one negotiable economic credit via thewireless controller comprises receiving the electronic coupon via thewireless controller from the coupon database.
 6. The hand held device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one negotiable economic credit includes aproduct-specific negotiable economic credit.
 7. The hand held device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one negotiable economic credit includes avendor-specific negotiable economic credit.
 8. The hand held device ofclaim 1, wherein receiving the at least one negotiable economic creditvia the wireless controller comprises receiving the at least onenegotiable economic credit via the wireless controller as part of anelectronic coupon book.
 9. The hand held device of claim 1, wherein theat least one negotiable economic credit includes electronic currency.10. The hand held device of claim 1, wherein sending the at least onenegotiable economic credit via the wireless controller comprises sendinga plurality of negotiable economic credits via the wireless controller.11. The hand held device of claim 1, wherein the memory is furtherconfigured to store a profile comprising one or more preferences;wherein requesting the at least one negotiable economic credit via thewireless controller comprises transmitting the profile via the wirelesscontroller; and wherein receiving the at least one negotiable economiccredit via the wireless controller comprises receiving the at least onenegotiable economic credit based on the profile.
 12. The hand helddevice of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store aprofile comprising one or more preferences; and wherein the functionsfurther comprise: configuring the profile using the hand held device.13. The hand held device of claim 1, wherein the memory is furtherconfigured to store a profile comprising one or more preferences; andwherein receiving the at least one negotiable economic credit via thewireless controller comprises: receiving a first negotiable economiccredit; determining whether the first negotiable economic credit matchesat least one preference of the one or more preferences; and in responseto determining that the first negotiable economic credit does match theat least one preference, storing the first negotiable economic credit.14. The hand held device of claim 13, wherein receiving the at least onenegotiable economic credit via the wireless controller furthercomprises: receiving a second negotiable economic credit; determiningwhether the second negotiable economic credit matches at least onepreference of the one or more preferences; and in response todetermining that the second negotiable economic credit does not matchthe at least one preference, filtering out the second negotiableeconomic credit.
 15. An article of manufacture including acomputer-readable storage medium having software stored thereon that, inresponse to execution by a processor, cause the processor to performfunctions comprising: requesting at least one negotiable economiccredit; receiving the at least one negotiable economic credit; storingthe at least one negotiable economic credit; retrieving the at least onenegotiable economic credit; sending the at least one negotiable economiccredit; and after sending the at least one negotiable economic credit,receiving a message indicating a negotiable economic credit wasutilized.
 16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein thefunctions further comprise: responsive to the message indicating thenegotiable economic credit was utilized, deleting the utilizednegotiable economic credit.
 17. The article of manufacture of claim 15,wherein the at least one negotiable economic credit includes anelectronic coupon.
 18. The article of manufacture of claim 15, whereinthe at least one negotiable economic credit includes electroniccurrency.
 19. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein requestingthe at least one negotiable economic credit comprises transmitting aprofile; and wherein receiving the at least one negotiable economiccredit comprises receiving the at least one negotiable economic creditbased on the profile.
 20. The article of manufacture of claim 15,wherein receiving the at least one negotiable economic credit comprises:receiving a first negotiable economic credit; determining whether thefirst negotiable economic credit matches at least one preferenceindicated in a profile; and in response to determining that the firstnegotiable economic credit does match the at least one preference,storing the first negotiable economic credit.
 21. The article ofmanufacture of claim 20, wherein receiving the at least one negotiableeconomic credit further comprises: receiving a second negotiableeconomic credit; determining whether the second negotiable economiccredit matches the at least one preference indicated in the profile; andin response to determining that the second negotiable economic creditdoes not match the at least one preference, filtering out the secondnegotiable economic credit.
 22. A method, comprising: requesting atleast one negotiable economic credit using a hand held device; receivingthe at least one negotiable economic credit at the hand held device;storing the at least one negotiable economic credit in a memory of thehand held device; retrieving the at least one negotiable economic creditfrom the memory of the hand held device; sending the at least onenegotiable economic credit using the hand held device; and after sendingthe at least one negotiable economic credit, receiving, at the hand helddevice, a message indicating a negotiable economic credit was utilized.23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: responsive to themessage indicating the negotiable economic credit was utilized, deletingthe negotiable economic credit that was utilized from the memory. 24.The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one negotiable economiccredit includes an electronic coupon.
 25. The method of claim 22,wherein the at least one negotiable economic credit includes electroniccurrency.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein requesting the at leastone negotiable economic credit comprises transmitting a profile storedin the memory of the hand held device; and wherein receiving the atleast one negotiable economic credit comprises receiving the at leastone negotiable economic credit based on the profile.
 27. The method ofclaim 22, further comprising: configuring a profile using the hand helddevice.
 28. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the at least onenegotiable economic credit comprises: receiving a first negotiableeconomic credit; determining whether the first negotiable economiccredit matches at least one preference indicated in a profile; and inresponse to determining that the first negotiable economic credit doesmatch the at least one preference, storing the first negotiable economiccredit.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein receiving the at least onenegotiable economic credit further comprises: receiving a secondnegotiable economic credit; determining whether the second negotiableeconomic credit matches the at least one preference; and in response todetermining that the second negotiable economic credit does not matchesthe at least one preference, filtering out the second negotiableeconomic credit.
 30. An apparatus, comprising: means for requesting atleast one negotiable economic credit; means for receiving the at leastone negotiable economic credit; means for storing the at least onenegotiable economic credit; means for retrieving the at least onenegotiable economic credit; means for sending the at least onenegotiable economic credit; and means for, after sending the at leastone negotiable economic credit, receiving a message indicating anegotiable economic credit was utilized.